FedEx Ground hub a huge coup for local economy

Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11:31 p.m.

There's really no exaggerating the tension Ocala and Marion County officials feel as they negotiate the final details of a deal that would bring a big FedEx Ground hub to Ocala.

Ocala City Manager Matt Brower and Executive Director of Community Development Marc Mondell sat in a quiet City Hall lobby with a small group of us from the Star-Banner on Thursday night and quietly, matter-of-factly answered questions about the negotiations.

I wondered aloud, at one point, why they seemed so subdued in the face of one of the biggest economic development coups this community has ever seen.

"A lot of dominoes have to fall into place before this thing is finalized," Brower said soberly.

"The company is clear on this: Don't count your eggs before they hatch," Mondell added.

Both men went on to explain that there are a lot of players in this game, and if one of those players waffles, drops the ball or simply changes his mind, the whole thing could come crashing down. The city is a player, the county is a player, the state of Florida is a player, FedEx is a player, of course, William Kearns, who owns the land on which the FedEx facility would sit, is a player.

It seems unlikely that any of those players will get cold feet and bail out, however. The state of Florida, and, in particular, Gov. Rick Scott have preached the pro-business gospel and seem intent on doing whatever it takes to attract industry to Florida. And let's face it, Fedex is not just any industry; it's a Fortune 100 heavyweight.

Landowner Bill Kearns, meanwhile, has more to lose than anyone if this deal falls through. He has invested millions and has raised an entire community's hopes.

FedEx? Well the company really isn't asking for that much from the city, the county and the state, just some road improvements and the relocation of some water and electric lines. A company like this chooses a location primarily because it makes sense logistically, not because of a few million dollars in incentives.

That leaves the city and the county.

It's really impossible to imagine either the County Commission or the Ocala City Council saying no to FedEx, because the commitments they are being asked to make to FedEx are quite modest in today's economic development game.

But there are two other reasons they won't gooch this: Walmart. Sysco.

You may recall that these companies courted Ocala and Marion County, only to be rebuffed at a time when construction was booming here and we thought we didn't really need them.

Those economic development failures came to symbolize the shortsightedness of our local political leadership.

But this is a different cast of county commissioners and city council members, for the most part. This is the group that partnered with Kearns more than a year ago to create the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park on Interstate 75, paving the way for major employers to plant roots in a community that affords tremendous logistical advantages because of its location.

No, there is no chance that either of those groups is going to turn away the first major occupant of this sprawling commerce park and miss the chance to slay the demons from their past.

With all due respect to Mondell and Brower — who should be applauded, by the way, for their tireless work on this project — I'm counting my chickens.

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